Sliding and pivoting closure for receptacle



g- 14, 1956 N. J. SPINDLER ETAL SLIDING AND PIVOTING CLOSURE FOR RECEPTACLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 9, 1953 Aug. 14, 1956 N. J. SPINDLER ErAL SLIDING AND PIVOTING CLOSURE FOR RECEPTACLE 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed March 9, 1955 FIE a mi .m m N016 r m W mJ /fi W 00 m 2. 7 Y B 7 7 4 E L p. 2 7/ 7L 2 5 3 w l United States Patent SLIDING AND PIVOTING CLOSURE FOR RECEPTA'CLE Norman J. Spindler and Carl 0. Peterson, Jamestown, N. Y., assignors to Watson Manufacturing Company, Inc., Jamestown, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application March 9, 1953, Serial No. 341,262

2 Claims. (Cl. 220-38) This invention relates to open top receptacles of the type used to contain various card or sheet records and, more particularly, to the provision of a cover therefor, together with means for facilitating ready movement of the cover into opened and closed positions.

For convenience of examination and posting, certain types of records must be readily accessible, such for example as so-called active records. Receptacles most suitable for containing these records are of the open top type. Such receptacles must be provided with some form of cover which not only serves to prevent record deterioration when not in use, but is capable of being locked to prevent unauthorized record examination. For greater convenience of examination and maintenance, it is found advisable to place all the records of a given subject, class, or group in a single receptacle. In the case of government, insurance, and industrial records, this requires provision of large receptacles and, of course, a correspondingly large cover or closure for such a receptacle. In some instances, due to the receptacles size, the closure therefor has been formed by providing two or more cover sections for the purpose of enabling convenient and easy manipulation by a clerk or other user of the records. The use of multiple covers, however, for a large, open top receptacle, involves provision of interlocking means as between the covers and a multiple locking mechanism for securing these covers in closed position on the receptacle.

It is believed the general structure of a closeable receptacle of the type under consideration could be of simpler design, manufactured at lesser cost, and provide adequate accessibility through the use of a single cover, provided such a cover, despite its proportions, could be so mounted and controlled as to be easily movable, by a record clerk or other person, into and out of closed position.

The present invention is directed to and has for one of its objects the provision of a single cover for open top receptacles, together with means for enabling convenient manipulation of the cover into and out of closed position.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of a cover supporting mechanism that enables moving a single element cover into such a position that it will be entirely out of the way of a clerk or other person examining or working on material contained within the open receptacle.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of means for supporting a single element cover on an open top receptacle in such manner that the cover may have both slidable and pivotable movement with respect to the receptacle.

A still further object of the invention lies in the pro vision of a cover supporting mechanism that effects partial balancing of a cover during movement into and out of closed position to decrease the effort usually required for such an operation.

Other and further objects of the invention will be more fully understood from a consideration of the following 2,758,744 Patented Aug. 14, 1956 specification, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of an open top receptacle provided with a cover in which is embodied one form of the invention, the cover being shown in closed position;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view, similar to Fig. 1, and shows the receptacle cover in open position;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical transverse sectional view of the receptacle and cover, being taken substantially as suggested by the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the cover support, parts being broken away to disclose the mounting of extendable end shoes on the support;

Fig. 5 is an end view of the cover support and hinge shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a side view, partly in section, of the support,

being taken substantially as indicated by the line 66 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 7 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view, showing the interengagement of an end of the support with the cover, being taken substantially as suggested by the line 77 of Fig. 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the reference numeral 10 is employed to generally designate a receptacle to which one form of the present invention is applicable. This receptacle, as suggested in the drawing, is of shallow, rectangular form and includes front and rear walls 11 and 12 and duplicate end walls 13. A suitable base 14 closes the bottom of the receptacle. Secured to, or formed integral at the four corners of the receptacle, are legs 16. Due to the fact that the receptacle is relatively shallow, the legsare of suflicient length to position the receptacle at proper usable height. The end walls 13 are inwardly flanged, as at 17, and terminate in upstanding ribs 18. These ribs extend the full length of these walls and interfit with the ends of a cover when the cover occupies a closed position. A piano type hinge 19 is shown attached along one leaf 21 thereof to the upper rear edge of the receptacle rear wall 12. The pivot point of the leaves of this hinge is substantially even with the upper inturned flange 22 of the rear wall 12.

A cover 23 is provided for the purpose of closing the top opening of the receptacle. The general design or configuration of this cover is of no importance to the invention other than the fact that it completely closes the receptacle opening and, when in closed position, has. a generally symmetrical appearance. The cover is formed. with depending marginal front and rear walls 24 and 25,,

respectively, and identical end walls 26. The lower edges. of the front and end walls terminate in inturned flanges 27 which, when the cover is in closed position, rest upon the flanges or rims 17 that define the receptacle opening. Suitable locaters for the cover, when in closed position, may take the form of pins 28 depending from the flange 27 of the front wall, these pins being projectable into'suitable openings in the flange 17 of the receptacle front wall.

A reinforcing member 29 is permanently attached to the inner face of the cover and extends from end to end thereof. The ends of this reinforcing member (see Fig. 7) are formed with depending flanges 31 which more or less parallel the cover ends 26. These flanges continue in right angle flanges 32 which extend to the inner face of the cover end walls 26. Continuing from flanges 32 are further integral flanges 33 and 34 which cooperate to provide an inwardly opening channel. Flange 33 is preferably permanently joined to the cover wall 26. Mounted in each channel thus formed are channel shaped runners 36, an elongated flange thereof being secured, as by screws 38, to flange 31. For convenience of further description, the runners provide guideways 39 which extend from front to rear of the cover ends.

This plate extends lengthwise of the cover and terminates short of the depending flanges 31 of the reinforcing memher 29. In cross section the plate is formed with a short front-side depending flange 42. The rear side of the plate terminates in a relatively deep flange 43, the edge of which is return bent, as at 44, for increased rigidity. The other leaf 46 of the hinge 19 is secured to the flange 43 substantially as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing. At its ends, plate 41 carries bars 47. These bars, through the provision of slots 48 and screws 49, enable cndwisc extending or retracting with respect to the plate. The exposed end of each bar terminates in a flange 51 to which is attached a guide shoe 52. It will be understood that when the bars are retracted, the shoes 52 constitute the only extensions beyond the ends of plate 41 and that this increase in the length of the plate will not interfere with mounting it in the cover 23, as will hereinafter be more fully set out.

For a fuller understanding of the assembly and operation of the structure above described, it is pointed out that the plate 41 may have attached to the flange 43 thereof, the leaf 46 of the hinge 19. The plate is then mounted in the cover and bars 47 are extended to move shoes 52 into the channels 39 to an extent that the shoes contact the base walls of the runners 36. With the shoes thus extended, screws 49 are turned down to lock the bars in position. At this point, it will be understood that the relationship of plate 41 to the cover is such that the plate may be moved back and forth within the cover to the limits of the length of the guide channels 39. It will be noted that 'at the forward end of the cover one or more suitable bumpers 53 are located in the plane of the flange 42 of the plate. With the plate 41 in its rearrnost position, as suggested in Fig. 3 of the drawing, the cover may now be placed in position to close the opening of the receptacle. Pins 28 of the cover, as well as additional guide straps 54, serve to precisely position the cover on the receptacle. The leaf 21 of hinge 19, depending from the rear edge of the cover, rests against the upper portion of the rear wall 12 of the receptacle. The leaf is now secured to this rear wall by suitable bolts 56.-

When it is desired to move the cover from the closed position shown in Figs. 1 and 3, an operator merely grasps conveniently located handles 57 and raises the front portion of the cover a sufficient distance to withdraw pins 28 from the openings in the front of the receptacle. The cover may now'be moved rearwardly of the receptacle and this operation takes place by reason of the change in relative position of the plate 41 within the cover. When the cover has been moved possibly half the travel of the plate 41 with respect thereto, it will extend considerably rearward-1y beyond the receptacle and this rear portion will constitute a sufficient weight so that the operator may readily lift the forward edge of the cover as continued rearward movement is effected. In other words, the rear portion of the cover acts as a partial counterbalance and enables free and easy lifting of the front edge of the cover. Continued raising of the cover and sliding thereof on the plate 41 takes place until the front of the plate 41 contacts bumpers 53 and the cover assumes a vertical position, substantially as suggested in Fig. 2- of the drawing. It will be noted that in this position the cover is entirely removed from the topopening of the receptacle and, therefore, in nowise interferes with the handling of records or other material placed in the receptacle. It is also pointed out that the cover, when in open position, is so located that it will not interfere with the placement of similar receptacles in end to end relationship, or other ofiice' equipment, such as tables, desks, etc.

When it is desired to move the cover into closed position, the operator grasps the handles and exerts a forward pull. This pull combinedly swings the rear portion of the cover outwardly and at the same time allows it to slide upwardly of the plate 41. Immediately upon commencement of the swinging movement of the cover, the forward portion thereof acts as a partial counterbalance to aid the operator and continued pull swings the cover into a nearly horizontal position. From this point it is merely necessary to draw the cover forwardly to its full extent, lower the forward edge onto the receptacle, with the pins 28 registering in the openings provided therefor.

Although applicants have shown and described only one form of their invention, it will be apparent that the general structure of the cover and the receptacle may be modified without in any way departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set out in the annexed claims.

Having thus set forth our invention, what we claim as ncw and for which we desire protection by Letters Patent 1s:

1. Structure mounting a cover on an open top receptacle for compound movement into and out of cover closing position, said cover having depending side walls, a depending rear wall and a depending front wall, said mounting structure comprising inwardly facing channels adjacent the inner faces of said side walls, the lengths of said channels extending parallel to the bottom edges of said side walls and substantially coextensive therewith, an elongated plate having its rear side extending parallel to the rear wall of said cover, extendable shoes mounted on the ends of said plate, said shoes projecting into and having slidable engagement with said channels, means for securing said shoes in extended channel engaging position, a depending flange defining the rear side of said plate, and hinge means joining said flange to the rear wall of said receptacle.

2. Structure mounting a cover on an open top receptacle for compound movement into and out of cover closing position, said cover having depending side walls, a depending rear wall and a depending front wall, said mounting structure comprising inwardly facing channels adjacent the inner faces of said side walls, the lengths of said channels extending parallel to the bottom edges of said side walls and substantially coextensive therewith, an elongated plate having its rear side extending parallel to the rear wall of said cover, extendable shoes mounted on the ends of said plate, said shoes projecting into and having slidable engagement with said channels, means for securing said shoes in extended channel engaging position, a depending flange defining the rear side of said plate, a further depending flange on the front side of said plate, resilient means adjacent the front wall of said cover for engagement by said further flange, and hingemeans joining said first mentioned flange to the rear wall of said receptacle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 166,183 Bridge Aug; 3, 1875 1,597,092 McTighe Aug. 24-, 1926 1,940,259 Lindeman-n et al Dec. 19, 1933 2,424,112 Nehrke July 15, 1947 2,638,241 Clark May 12, 1953 2,684,277 Hamacher July 20,. 1954 

